Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary tree-frog 1738, from tree (n.) + frog (n.1).\n WordNet tree-frog n. arboreal amphibians usually having adhesive disks at the tip of each toe; of southeast Asia and Australia and America [syn: tree toad, tree frog] any of various Old World arboreal frogs distinguished from true frogs by adhesive suckers on the toes [syn: tree frog]